Daily Word Of God
John 1:45-51
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, the one about whom the prophets wrote: he is Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth,’ ‘From Nazareth?’ said Nathanael. ‘Can anything good come from that place?’ ‘Come and see’ replied Philip.
When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said to him, ‘There is an Israelite who deserves the name, incapable of deceit.’ ‘How do you know me?’ said Nathanael. ‘Before Philip came to call you,’ said Jesus ‘I saw you under the fig tree.’
Nathanael answered, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.’ Jesus replied, ‘You believe that just because I said: I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.’ And then he added, ‘I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending.’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- Today is the feast of St Bartholomew, one of the twelve apostles. Scripture scholars often associated Bartholomew with Nathaniel whom Jesus saw under the fig tree.
- The Jews often read and reflected on the Torah under the fig tree. This is an indication that Nathaniel was a man of great financial means as he could live such a leisurely life.
- Because of Nathaniel’s love for the Word of God, Jesus told him that he would see greater things yet i.e. to receive great divine insights. Jesus tells us today that we too would receive divine insights if we focus and reflect on God’s Word daily. Will we be able to do it?